TRURO, N.S.—The Government of Canada’s Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program is providing $640-million to the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic (THRSC Atlantic) to examine literacy and essential skills levels among employees in the trucking industry.

The study will assess the impact of literacy and essential skills on safety, productivity and employment patterns, and culminate in a toolkit to help employers address essential skills challenges in the workplace.

The announcement was made by MP Scott Armstrong, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“We are aware that low essential skills levels can impact safety performance. This project will allow us to work with multiple partners, including the Province of Nova Scotia, to explore this relationship and identify a plan companies will be able to implement,” said Kelly Henderson, executive director of (THRSC Atlantic).

The trucking industry will need 30,000 more qualified workers by 2015. Increased literacy levels will boost both safety and productivity as technology becomes more complex, and this project is expected to help employers meet current and future human resources needs.

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